Combination door and canopy



March 3,1970 HjHdlq g 3,497,998.

COMBINATION DOOR AND CANOPY Filed July 31, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR: Laws H. THoMAs ATTORNEY March 3, 1970 H. THOMAS COMBINATION DOOR AND CANOPY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1968 mvmron: Laws H. THoMAs ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,497,998 COMBINATION DOGR AND CANOPY Lewis H. Thomas, 804 Sloop St., Charleston, S.C. 29406 Filed July 31, 1968, Ser. No. 757,179 Int. Cl. E0511 /00 U.S. Cl. 4970 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A frame structure such as the wall of a garage or the like having an opening in which is mounted a door for pivotal movement between a closed position and a substantially horizontally extending canopy position forwardly of the frame structure with spring means attached to the door and frame structure for yieldingly urging the door into the canopy position.

This invention relates to a building structure and more particularly to a combination door and patio roof for such a structure.

Many structures in use today and in particular resi dences are provided with storage facilities such as garages having a suitable opening to the exterior of the structure for egress and ingress. Such openings are generally provided with doors which when closed not only protect the property stored within the interior of the storage facility but permit the facility to be comfortably occupied regardless of external weather conditions or the like. Doors utilized to close garages in which vehicles are stored are commonly arranged for pivotal or slidable movement so that they may be readily opened and closed with relatively little physical exertion to allow for repeated movement of a vehicle such as an automobile into and out of such garages. While present day pivotally mounted garage doors generally functions satisfactorily. The mechanism which permits pivotal or sliding movement of the door between the open and closed position is somewhat complicated and expensive in construction as well as imposing somewhat of a physical strain on the operator during manipulation.

Garages, whether attached to or detached from residences, are generally well constructed and costly so that their interiors are generally of a minimum area in accordance with the number of vehicles arranged to be accommodate. Therefore, a considerable investment is enerally involved in such garage constructions imposing a limitation on the supplemental uses to which such garage fioor areas might be put by the homeowner. For instance, in periods of good weather it is frequency not necessary to store motor vehicles within such garages so that the garage interiors are available for activities such as home workshop projects, patio living and the like all of which activities are restricted somewhat by the available space. While it has been proposed to utilize such garage doors interchangeably as an outwardly extending canopy or roof, such proposed constructions generally involve either an entirely different construction for supporting the door from that used in conventional garage doors or otherwise substantial and expensive modifications must be made to existing doors before such present day door constructions may be so utilized.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a new and novel combination door and canopy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel door construction for a garage or the like which serves also as a canopy so as to extend the garage interior area for patio type living activity.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel combination garage door and patio roof which Patented Mar. 3, 1970 is movable automatically from a closed position outwardly from the garage into a canopy position and suitably maintained therein without risk of damage from wind and similar adverse conditions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel combination door unit having an operating mechanism which is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, requires only a minimum of space and which permits the door unit to be adapted to a wide variety of storage activities.

This invention further provides a new and novel combination door and canopy which permits most of the component parts of one type of widely used garage door to be utilized with a minimum of modification and which may be used either singly or in pairs to provide fluid dispensing facilities such as a shower for summertime use, for washing motor vehicles in combination with soap or wax dispensing if desired and which permits small detached structures to be used convertibly as either storage facilities or as a shelter such as a carport.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompany drawings.

The objects stated above and other related objects are accomplished by providing an upstanding frame structure for association with a supporting surface with the frame structure having vertically extending side edge portions and a horizontally extending upper edge portion defining a door opening. A door is pivotally mounted on the side edge portions of the frame structure by pivot means connected to opposite sides of the door for pivotal movement of the door between a vertically disposed closed position in the opening and a substantially horizontally disposed canopy position with the major portion of the door extending outwardly from the frame structure. Spring means associated with each of the pivot means are provided which are connected at one end to the door between the pivot means and the door upper edge and at the other end to the frame structure below the pivot means for yieldingly urging the door into the canopy position.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and o eration may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the door of the invention in a canopy position;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 22 of FIGURE 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged rear elevation view of the door of FIGURE 1 in the closed position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention showing the doors in the closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the doors in the canopy position; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the modification of FIGURE 5 illustrating the use of the invention for washing automobiles.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIGURES 13 in particular, the invention is shown incorporated with a garage G of conventional construction to form a combination garage door and patio roof or canopy. The garage G may be of any well-known construction either attached to or forming a part of a residence or the like, the ground erally by the numeral 12, and forming a portion of the garage G. As is well known, the frame structure or wall 12 defines with the other walls and the roof 13 of the garage G, an interior 14 for accommodating therein an automobile or the like, egress and ingress being permitted by the supporting surface 11. Although the garage interior 14 is primarily for the temporary storage of an automobile, a common practice among homeowners is to utilize at least a portion of the garage interior 14 as a storage facility for lawn tools and the like and even as an area for workshop or play activities when the use of the garage for automobile storage is not required such as during the summertime when pleasant weather con ditions exist.

The Wall or frame structure 12 includes vertically extending side edge portions or jambs 16, 17 and a horizontally extending upper edge portion or head 18 which defines with the supporting surface 11, a door opening 19.

A substantially planar door 21 having an inner surface 21a and an outer surface 21b is provided which may be of any conventional construction formed from sheet metal, reinforced plastic, wood or the like for closing the door opening 19. As shown best in FIGURE 3, the door 21 includes side edges 22, 23, a top edge 24, and a bottom edge 26, and may be provided with windows 27, 28 of glass or the like suitably formed within the body of the door 21 for visibility, illumination and the like.

In FIGURE 3, the door 21 is shown in a vertically disposed closed position within the door opening 19 with the door side edges 22, 23 in close fitting relationship with the jambs 16, 17 respectively, the door upper edge 24 in closely spaced relationship with the head 18 and the door bottom edge 26 in closely spaced relationship with the supporting surface 11 so that the door 21 nests in closing relationship with the opening 19 in the vertically extended position of FIGURE 3.

Preferably handles 25, 30 are provided on the door inner and outer surfaces 21a, 21b respectively which are operatively connected in the well known manner to locking devices of conventional construction (not shown) for releasably locking the door 21 in the closed position.

Pivot means are provided for the door 21 which are mounted on opposite sides of the door adjacent each side edge 22, 23 and the upper edge 24 as well as on the associated side edge portions 16, 17 respectively of the frame structure 12 for pivotal movement of the door 21 between the vertically disposed closed position of FIG- URE 3 and a substantially horizontally disposed canopy position with the major portion of the door 21 extending outwardly from the frame structure 12 as shown in FIG- URES 1, 2. More specifically, pivot pins 31, 32 are provided on each side of the door 21 and the ends of the pins are supported in bearing members such as brackets or the like 33, 34 and 36, 37 suitably secured to the door adjacent each side edge 22, 23 and associated Side edge portions 16, 17 of the frame structure 12 respectively adjacent the door upper edge 24 as shown.

The door 21 is thus supported for pivotal movement from the closed position of FIGURE 3 outwardly of the frame structure 12 into the canopy position as shown best in FIGURE 2 with a major portion of the door 21 extending outwardly from the frame structure 12 to form a canopy or roof over the supporting surface 11 in front of the garage G. In the preferred embodiment, weather stripping 38, 39 are provided on each of the side edge portions or jambs 16, 17 of the frame structure 12. The stripping 38 extends from the pivot pins 31, 32 upwardly to the upper edge 24 of the door 21 and is preferably of the rubber gasket type which yieldingly engages the door edge so as not to restrict the inward movement of the door as it moves from the closed position to the canopy position. Stripping 39 extends downwardly from the pivot pins 31, 32 to the door bottom edge 26 and is preferably of the flexible metal type which slightly overlaps the door 4 edge portions 22, 23 as the door moves into the closed position of FIGURE 3.

Spring means are associated with each of the pivot means for yieldingly urging the door 21 into the canopy position of FIGURE 2. More specifically, coil springs 41, 42 are provided on each side of the door 21. The springs upper ends 43, 44 are attached to the door 21 by suitable means such as brackets 46, 47 above the pivot pins 31, 32 adjacent the door upper edge 24. The lower ends 48, 49 of the springs 41, 42 respectively are secured to brackets 51, 52 suitably secured to the side edge portions 16, 17 respectively of the frame structure 12. Preferably, the lower ends 48, 49 of the springs 41, 42 respectively are connected to the brackets 51, 52 by adjustable means such as externally threaded couplings 53, 54 so that the tension in the springs 41, 42 respectively may be adjusted in accordance with the weight of the door 21.

The springs 41, 42 normally maintain the door 21 in the canopy position of FIGURES 1, 2 but in order to securely retain the door 21 in the canopy position or in a selected angular position between the closed position of FIGURES 3 and the canopy position, at least one bracing member is provided on at least one side of the door 21 for releasably interconnecting the door 21 with the frame structure 12. More specifically, a bracing member or rod 56 is pivotally mountedat one end 56a by means such as a pivot 57 to each side of the door adjacent the door side edges 22, 23. Suitable means such as a plurality of vertically spaced retaining apertures 58 are provided in the side edge portions 16, 17 of the frame structure 12 which selectively receive the lower end 5612 of the rod 56 as as to securely retain the door 21 in the canopy position or in the selected angular position as shown in the solid line and dotted line positions of FIGURE 2. When not in use, the rod 56 may be pivoted against the inner surface 21a of the door 21 into a stored position and retained therein by means of a hook 59 or the like.

In the preferred embodiment, the horizontally extending portion or head 18 of the frame structure 12 has a lower edge 18a which is preferably positioned in closely spaced relationship with the outer surface 21b of the door 21 as shown in FIGURE 2 thereby reducing or eliminating substantially any gap between these surfaces. This relationship is obtained by the provision of a horizontally extending recess 61 in the inner surface of the head 18 as shown in FIGURE 2 which accommodates the upper edge portion 24 of the door 21 in the closed position of FIGURE 3. However, it should be understood that if desired this recess may be eliminated and the door top edge accommodated below the bottom edge of head 18 in the closed position of the door.

The door 21 is also preferably provided with at least one fluid dispensing device which is mounted on the inner surface 21a of the door 21. This fluid dispensing device may be of any conventional form such as a shower head and two of such shower heads 62, 63 are preferably provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing devices 62, 63 are mounted in a row extending in substantially parallel relationship with the door side edges 22, 23 as shown best in FIGURE 3 but if desired the dispensing devices may be arranged in a staggered relationship. As shown in FIGURE 2, the shower heads 62, 63 which are preferably of the type which provide for angular adjustment of the spray and may be used in the canopy position for such purposes as car or boat washing, showering, etc.

The spray devices 62, 63 are connected to fluid conduit means which include a pipe 65, a flexible conduit 66, and a pipe 67 positioned on the inner wall of the frame structure 12 for supplying fluid such as water to the spray devices from a suitable source of fluid (not shown). Additionally, a dispenser 68 for cleansing fluid such as liquid soap, wax, or the like may be also provided in the pipe 67 so as to introduce the cleansing fluid or wax to the water flowing within the conduits 6567 when the spray devices 62, 63 are to be used for cleansing or waxing purposes.

It will be noted that the flexible conduit 66 maintains fiuid communication between the pipes 65, 67 in any position of the door 21.

Referring now to FIGURES 4-6, there is shown a modification of the invention wherein like numerals are used to identify like parts. In the embodiment of FIG- URES 4-6, a pair of frame structures 12, 12" are provided which are arranged in aligned, spaced parallel relationship on an associated supporting surface 11. Preferably, the frame structures 12', 12" are incorporated within a building or shed S provided with side walls 71, 72 and a roof 73 supported on the frame structures in overlying relationship therewith to define an interior 74. The building S is preferably a detached structure in contrast with the garage G of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3 and may be of the type commonly used in association with residential structures to provide storage facilities or the like.

Each of the frame structures or walls 12', 12" is provided with a door opening 19, 19" in aligned relationship in which are positioned doors 21, 21" together with the associated parts identical to that of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3 for pivotal movement of the doors between a closed position as shown in FIGURE 4 and a canopy position as shown in FIGURES 5, 6-. However, the doors 21 are arranged to pivot outwardly in opposite directions and into substantially horizontal alignment in the canopy position to form with the roof 73 a continuous canopy for accommodating a vehicle 76 or the like. Thus, the building S may be used as a storage facility, access to the interior 74 being permitted by either of the doors 21, 21".

In the canopy position of FIGURES S, 6, the doors 21, 21" together with the roof 73 form what is generally referred to as a carport for protecting the vehicle 76 against inclement weather as well as providing washing or waxing facilities for the vehicle as shown best in FIG- URE 6. Preferably, an additional fluid dispensing device 77 is suitably suspended from the roof 73 being connected by suitable conduit means (not shown) to an associated fluid source which is also connected by flexible conduits 78, 79 to the spray devices or shower heads 62', 63' and 62", 63" of each of the doors 21', 21".

In either the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3 or the embodiment of FIGURES 4-6, suitable curtains or the like may be provided in association with the doors to enclose the area under the doors in the canopy position. Such an arrangement is shown in phantom in FIGURE wherein roll-type curtains 81-83 are detachably mounted on the edge portions 21, 26 and 23 of door 21, curtain 83 being shown in the draped position. It should be under stood that similar curtains may be provided on the other door 21" to provide a totally enclosed area.

In the operation of the invention, the door may be pivoted to the closed position of FIGURE 3 either by simply pushing on the door or by using either handle 30 on the door outer surface 21b or handle 25 on the inner surface 21a of the door 21 against the urging action of the springs 41, 42 whereby the door is positioned in a substantially vertical closing position in the opening 19 and locked therein with the top edge portion 24 of the door nesting within the notch 61 in the head 18 of the frame structure 12.

When the door 21 is to be moved to the Open or canopy position, the locking devices (not shown) are released by manipulation of one of the handles 25, 30 and the door pivots upwardly in the direction of the arrow I in FIGURE 2 under the urging action of the springs 41, 42 so that the door is moved into the canopy position of FIGURES l, 2 and maintained therein by the springs. Since, in the canopy position of FIGURE 2, the major portion of the door 21 extends outwardly from the frame structure 12, a canopy or roof is provided over the supporting surface 11 adjacent the garage G thereby extending the sheltered area of the garage interior 14 for patio type activities or the like.

The bracing members 56 may now be used if desired in the event of high winds or the like where a more sturdy support of the door 21 is obtained by disengaging the bracing members 56 from the retaining hooks 59 and engaging the bracing members or rods lower ends 5611 in one of the apertures 58. It will be noted that the upper aperture 58 is for bracing the door in the canopy position with the door being supported in an intermediate angular position by selective engagement with the additionally provided apertures 58 in the frame structure 12.

With the door 21 in the canopy position of FIGURE .2, the spray devices 62, 63 may be actuated by suitable valve (not shown) to spray water alone or in combination with cleansing material, wax, etc., introduced into the conduits 65-67 from the receptacle 68 thereby providing a boat or car washing or waxing facility, shower facilities for beach and hot weather use or the like.

It can be seen that there has been provided with the novel arrangement of this invention an extremely simple arrangement by means of which a pivotally mounted door may be pivoted from a closing position to a canopy position and back again, the pivotal movement into the canopy position automatically obtainable by the action of springs connected to the doors. In the canopy position, the major portion of the door is extended outwardly from the supporting structure so that considerable covered area may be provided adjoining the area behind the door opening making the invention ideally suitable for a combination garage and patio facility. An outstanding feature of the invention is the easy adaptation of a conventional type of pivotally mounted doors presently installed on residential garages and the like with the addition of only a few inexpensive component parts thereby greatly extending the value and usefulness of such present installations. It will be noted that the invention requires very little space behind the door opening thereby permitting the door to be readily adapted to any type of storage facilities such as trucks, warehouses, relatively shallow enclosures in combination with residences, etc. Furthermore, the fluid dispensing arrangement employed in combination with the door construction further extends the usefulness of the invention since it may also be used for a multitude of operations such as boat or car washing and waxing, showering and the like.

While there has been provided what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is the aim of the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A combination door and canopy comprising, in combination, at least one upstanding frame structure for association with the supporting surface, said frame structure having vertically extending side edge portions and a horizontal extending upper edge portion defining with said supporting surface at least one substantially planar door having side edges and top and bottom edges for closing said door opening, pivot means mounted on opposite sides of said door adjacent each side edge and upper edge of said door and on the associated side edge portion of said frame structure for pivotal movement of said door between a vertically disposed closed position in said door opening and a substantially horizontally disposed canopy position with the major portion of said door extending outwardly from said frame structure, spring means associated with each of said pivot means inwardly of said frame structure for yieldingly urging said door into said canopy position, said spring means having an upper end connected to said door above said pivot means and adjacent said door upper edge and a lower end connected to the associated frame structure side edge portion below said pivot means and at least one fluid dispensing device mounted on the inner surface of said door and fluid conduit means connected to said dispensing device for conducting fluid to said dispensing device from an associated fluid source.

2. A combination garage door and patio roof in accordance with claim 1 wherein a pair of said upstanding frame structures are provided which are arranged in aligned spaced parallel relationship on said associated supporting surface, a roof supported on said frame structure in overlying relationship therewith, each of said frame structures having vertically extending side edge portions and a horizontally extending upper edge portion defining with said supporting surface a door opening, a substantially planar door having side edges and top and bottom edges for closing each of said door openings, pivot means mounted on opposite sides of each of said doors adjacent each side edge and upper edge of said doors and on the associated side edge portions of said frame structures for pivotal movement of said doors between a vertically disposed closed position in said door openings and a substantially horizontally disposed canopy position with a major portion of said doors extending outwardly from said frame structure in opposite directions and in substantially horizontal alignment to form with said roof a continuous canopy for accommodating a vehicle, boat or the like and spring means associated with each of said pivot means inwardly of each of said frame structures for yieldingly urging said doors into said canopy position, said spring means having an upper end connected to each of said doors between pivot means and 5 each of said door upper edge and a lower and connected to the associated frame structure side edge portions below said pivot means and wherein at least one fluid dispensing device is mounted on the inner surface of each of said doors, and fluid conduit means connected to said dispensing devices for conducting fluid from an associated fluid source to said dispensing devices.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,307,726 6/1919 Cropper 160-77 2,973,561 3/1961 Jackson 49149 X 3,038,481 6/1962 Brechtel 134123 X 3,044,540 7/1962 Hammersley 160-40 X 3,265,087 8/1966 Livingston 2392 09 X 3,368,571 2/1968 Honorof 134-423 X FOREIGN PATENTS 228,126 5/1960 Australia.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner US. Cl X.R. 49197 

